Kathleen High School honors Clinton Wright's memory

By Kaitlyn Pearson The Ledger

Sunday

Sep 20, 2015 at 11:00 PM

Those who knew the late Clinton Wright say he saw value in everyone. "He loved the kids he touched each and every day," said Kay Fields, a member of the Polk County School Board. "He didn't give up on people." On Sunday family and friends gathered in Kathleen High School's auditorium for a ceremony to dedicate the administration building in his memory. He served Polk County students for more than 30 years before his death in 2007 from a heart attack.

KATHLEEN — Those who knew the late Clinton Wright say he saw value in everyone.

"He loved the kids he touched each and every day," said Kay Fields, a member of the Polk County School Board. "He didn't give up on people."

On Sunday family and friends gathered in Kathleen High School's auditorium for a ceremony to dedicate the administration building in his memory. He served Polk County students for more than 30 years before his death in 2007 from a heart attack.

The Rev. Darriel Brown, one of Wright's mentees, said Wright consistently pushed him to be better by always calling him toward higher accomplishments, achievements and responsibilities. Wright taught him make better decisions, have more determination and walk in a higher direction in order to get to his destination.

When he became superintendent of the Lake Wales Charter School System in 2004, Wright was responsible for forming a school district and was fond of saying that things would be done "the Wright way."

But most of his career — and most of the children he impacted — was in Kathleen schools. He began teaching social studies at Kathleen Junior High School in 1974. After working as an assistant principal for curriculum for four years, Wright became principle of Kathleen Junior High School in 1985.

He served as the principal at Kathleen High School from 1991 to 1995.

Wright spent a lot of his time at the school and with students, Debra Wright said, and she was honored to serve the community alongside him.

"He considered everybody his family and his friend," Debra Wright said. "This is momentum to continue the work he did. Seeing his name on the building is a wonderful reminder of his love for the community."

To honor his memory, Kathleen High's faculty and staff wanted to name the school's administration building for him, Fields said.

But the question was when to do it.

The decision was made to wait until Kathleen High's new permanent principal, Donna Drisdom, was in place because of concerns the dedication could have gotten lost in the transition to the new administration, Fields said.

Once all the key players were in agreement, Fields said, the date was set.

"We all believe that it was in God's timing — not ours," she said.

Wright was a Bartow native who graduated from Bartow High School in 1971. He earned three degrees: a Bachelor of Science in social studies from Florida Memorial University, a Masters of Education from Rollins College and an Educational Doctorate from Nova University.

He was married to Debra S. Wright, 62, who also had a career in education, and had two daughters — Debra L., 38, and Ashlee, 34. During his career, he won Florida Principal of the Year and was inducted into the Polk County Public Schools Hall of Fame in 2007.

In 1995, he was named an area superintendent for the Polk County School District. He resigned from the county system in 2003 when all four area superintendent positions were removed to cut costs in the district.

Wright then became the first superintendent of Lake Wales Charter School System, a post he held until he died.

Sunday's dedication ceremony included performances from the school's chorus and a presentation of colors from JROTC cadets.

The audience erupted into cheers when Fields cited one of Wright's well-known sayings: "If you want to be the best, you have to be much better than the rest."

Former NFL tight end, Desmond Clark, who graduated from Kathleen High School, said Wright played a huge role in the success he's had in his career because Wright helped shape him into a man.

Wright was the principal at Kathleen High School when he was a student. But he'd known the family since he was a child because Debra Wright was his third-grade teacher.

Clinton and Debra Wright always had high expectations for Clark, and he said, their personalized love and support was an inspiration to him.

"He cared enough to take an interest in me personally," Clark said. "When kids feel that type of inspiration and support, they do better. Kids don't always get that personal interaction or have people put expectations on them."

"He made you believe that you could."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.